Blog
Research insights, training commentary, and cycling science — written for athletes and coaches who want to understand the evidence behind their training.
8 November 2024
First Impressions of Training Peaks Virtual Beta
I just took my first ride on the new Training Peaks Virtual platform. As expected from a market leader like Training Peaks, they re not known for rapidly adopting the latest innovations. They re usually more of a follower than a pioneer in the industry. However, with their acquisition of indeVELO, they have now brought this platform [ ]
5 May 2024
Episode 19 Interview with Prof Rob Lamberts – Reliability of Recovery Heart Rate Variability
In this episode I interview Prof Rob Lamberts and we discuss his recent publication ‘Reliability of Recovery Heart Rate Variability Measurements as Part of the Lamberts Submaximal Cycle Test and the Relationship with Training Status in Trained to Elite Cyclists’. European Journal of Applied Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05385-z. Prof. Rob Lamberts, head of Research at the Division [ ]
18 August 2023
Episode 18 – Atrial fibrillation in cyclists, interview with Prof Gerry McCann
In this episode I speak to Prof Gerry McCann who is a heart specialist with a subspecialist interest in MRI scanning; he conducts experimental research in people to better understand heart disease and clinical trials to assess the optimal investigation strategies and treatments for patients with, or at risk of developing, heart disease. Professor McCann [ ]
19 January 2023
Episode 17 – Interview with Prof Ron Maughan, everything nutrition
Ron Maughan obtained his BSc (Physiology) and PhD from the University of Aberdeen, and was based in the Medical School there for almost 25 years before moving to England. He is now semi-retired but is still a Visiting Professor in the School of Medicine at St Andrews University. He spent much of his career trying [ ]
29 July 2022
Episode 16 – Cycling into old age ‘The Royal Academy of Octogenarian Cyclists’
In this episode I interview Ray Marentette who has established a very unique Facebook group the Royal Academy of Octogenarian Cyclists which now has over 1,100 global members. We discuss the initial reason for starting the page and its very grand title, we then discuss how it has developed and what it offers its members. [ ]
6 January 2022
Episode 15 – Incorporation of 30s sprints into your endurance ride, Dr Nicki Winfield Almquist interview.
In this episode I interview Dr Nicki Winfield Almquist who is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. We discuss one of his publications The Effect of 30-Second Sprints During Prolonged Exercise on Gross Efficiency, Electromyography, and Pedaling Technique in Elite Cyclists published in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijspp/15/4/article-p562.xml. [ ]
30 July 2021
Episode 14: The effect of aerodynamic time-trial position on gross efficiency
In my interview with Chris Fennell we discuss the importance of optimising aerodynamic position for successful time-trial performance. Air resistance is the major resistive force for cyclists on level ground accounting for up to 96% of a rider s power output. Over the past few years the time-trial positions have become more extreme in the quest [ ]
21 November 2020
Episode 13 – Dr Mia Burleigh – Interactions between diet(nitrates) and oral bacteria in the regulation of human health
In recent years there has been a significant interest in using nitrate supplements to enhance athletic performance with sports nutrition companies producing beetroot and cherry supplements to try and increase our nitrate intake. In this interview with Dr Mia Burleigh, who is one of my colleagues at UWS, I discuss why nitrate supplementation might be [ ]
16 August 2020
Episode 12 – Interview with David Smith MBE
This interview covers his life story, all of the ups and downs to where he is now, training on his bike 14-16 hours a week trying to build up his strength with an eye to the UCI World Championships in Glasgow in 2023. A miracle baby who defied death, surviving a crippling childhood and medical [ ]
19 July 2020
Episode 11 – Technical Innovation 3, Another first for SRM with the X-power Pedal
In this episode I had the great pleasure of chatting to someone who I have known for about 25 years and has had a profound influence of cycling over the last 30 years. Uli Schoberer is the inventor of the first power cranks and founder of SRM. His products have been used at world championships [ ]
15 July 2020
Episode 10 -Technical Innovation 2 – Aero wheels re-invented
Streamline Cycling with Aerodynamic Interchangeable Rims Over the last few years there certainly has been a proliferation of deep section rim wheels to give you that aerodynamic edge and of course they look cool as well. The basic physics of why deep section rims are faster is fairly simple, spokes do a lot of chopping [ ]
9 July 2020
Episode 9 – Technical Innovation 1 – Shokbox bike box
In this interview I speak to Martin Greene founder and inventor of Shokbox, a new design for a bike box. I like many of you take my bike to many places so that I can have the comfort of riding my own bike rather than hiring son and not being quite sure what you are [ ]
15 April 2020
How does a cycling club cope with the COVID-19 lockdown?
Dunfermline Cycling Club completed a member survey to try and find out how its members were adapting to the restrictions. The majority of respondents (75%) were still riding outside as part of their permitted daily exercise. However in addition a large proportion (65%) were utilising some form of smart trainer with associated software (Trainer Road, [ ]
15 April 2020
Is the COVID-19 lockdown encouraging an increase in cycling?
https://www.cycling.scot/news-article/new-data-suggests-big-increase-in-people-cycling-since-social-distancing-measures-introduced-in-scotland Some recent data collected by Cycling Scotland suggests that the current situation has encouraged us to go out more on our bikes. Analysing data from automatic sensors counting cycling across Scotland has revealed a very significant increase in bike journeys in some parts with a staggering 215% increase in Dunfermline. The analysis compared the [ ]
6 April 2020
Episode 8 – Investigating the best design of Interval training?
In this episode I look at the science behind the design of interval training in an interview with Arthur Bossi (@ahbossi) who is in the final stages of his PhD, that dreaded writing-up . We specifically discuss one of his papers (details below) from his PhD which has just been published. Interval training is very widely [ ]
3 April 2020
Episode 7 – Interview with Dr Shawn Bearden, Science of Ultra
I had the great pleasure to interview Dr Shawn Bearden, who was one of my inspirations to create this podcast. Shawn has his own super successful podcast The Science of Ultra , where he conducts interviews, has a coaches corner and some individual information about ultra trail running. He is a former soccer player who, after [ ]
21 February 2020
Ketones do not improve performance?
A just published meta analysis from group of Spanish researchers suggests that acute consumption of ketones does not improve performance for sprint up to 50 minutes of exercise. It has been suggested that several pro-tour teams were using ketones so does this bring this nutritional strategy into question? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32045881
22 January 2020
Episode 6 – A successful riders perspective of Cycling Science
In the last episode I discussed the translation of research with Dr Laurent Bannock and for this episode I wanted to explore what it is like for a successful rider and how science could guide their training.The rider is Andy Bruce who I have known since he took up cycling in 2011. In this short [ ]
22 November 2019
Dr Freeman and the testosterone saga rolls on
The General Medical Council (GMC) continue their investigation into Dr Freeman s fitness to practice. Despite the now elongated process I dont think that we are any closer to the truth. Who exactly die he order it for? Claims that it was for Shane Sutton s erectile disfunction do seem a bit far fetched. Although if Shane [ ]
22 November 2019
Episode 5 – Translation of Research to Practice
A joint podcast with Dr Laurent Bannock, Institute of Performance Nutrition (www.theiopn.com), We do Science Podcast . Both Laurent and I have an interest in the translation of research into practice and how practitioners, coaches and athletes can first of all access appropriate information but also how the latest research influences practice. We discuss how research [ ]
27 September 2019
Episode 4 – Crash Bang
In this episode we discuss a recent paper on acute injuries in mountain bikers published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. Injuries are always present in mountain biking so this paper tries to provide a bit more detail comparing amateur and elite riders. Stoop, Rahel, Erich Hohenauer, Thomas Vetsch, Tom Deliens, and Ron [ ]
19 June 2019
Episode 3 – Critical Power
Sorry it has taken a bit longer than expected to complete our third episode, but here it is. Episode 3 Critical Power Research Paper and Interview I speak to Dr Paul Morgan about his paper on ‘Critical Power’ and its potential relationship with TT performance and FTP. Morgan, Paul T., Matthew I. Black, Stephen [ ]
20 March 2019
Revolutionary new design – Bontrager WaveCel helmets
Trek and Bontrager have come up with a new helmet that significantly reduces the effects of an impact in a crash. Having carried out extensive research led by Dr. Michael Bottlang is the founder of the Legacy Biomechanics Laboratory in Portland, Oregon they have demonstrated that this new design has the potential to significantly reduce [ ]
20 March 2019
Cycling helps to maintain immune function into old age
As if we need more evidence of the benefit of cycling into old age, some new research looking at immune function. The research team from Kings College with colleagues from University of Birmingham, found that some of the cyclists aged 75 and over had immune systems equivalent to 20 year old s. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-43308729
15 March 2019
Episode 2 Cycling and pollution
Research Papers In this episode we discuss the findings from a research group in Canada who have recently published two papers from the sams study where they had some cyclists exercise while inhaling diesel fumes. Giles, Luisa V., Christopher Carlsten, and Michael S. Koehle. 2018. “The Pulmonary and Autonomic Effects of High-Intensity and Low-Intensity [ ]
13 March 2019
Apologies to Ruth McKean
It seems that we gave Ruth a PhD in our last podcast, while she is highly qualified BSc, MSc PgDip she did point out to us that she does not actually have a PhD. Maybe something for the future?
1 March 2019
First Episode ‘Energy Deficit’
Episode 1 1.Introduction to the hosts of the Cycling Science Podcast 2. Background of the Cycling Science Podcast hosts 3. Research paper review Keay N, Francis G, Hind K. Low energy availability assessed by a sport-specific questionnaire and clinical interview indicative of bone health, endocrine profile and cycling performance in competitive male cyclists BMJ Open [ ]
19 December 2018
First episode of the Cycling Science podcast coming soon!
We are busy recording content for the new podcast, starting out with a very high profile interview. Details to come.